WAFL round 3
Peel thunder 9.11 (65) def by. Perth 10.6 (66)
The Perth Demons held on in a thriller at Lane Group Stadium on Saturday, inaccuracy robbing Peel Thunder of their second win of the season.
Peel won the first quarter before the Demons controlled the middle portion of the game, with Jeremy Sharp continuing to make his bid to re-enter Fremantle’s best 23 notching up 34 disposals and a goal.
Aiden Riddle and Toby Cossor had big shoes to fill in the absence of Mason Cox this weekend and combined for 42 hitouts, but it was no match for Perth’s Joshua Edwards who knocked out 42 himself.
Charlie Constable was kept unusually quiet for the day finishing up with just 18 disposals after getting 35 and 36 touches in the first two games of the year.
4 goals from Jack Kluske and 2 from Aaron Clarke added significant scoreboard pressure, holding on to leave Mandurah victorious by a point.
Swan Districts 12.14 (86) def. West Perth 9.10 (64)
A tight first half between the Swans and Falcons at Steel Blue Oval set the match up for a thrilling second half, but a four-goal third term from Swan Districts saw them run away with the win.
Despite a close inside 50 entry count of 44-43, the Swans forward line connected well and produced 4 multiple goal kickers.
William Reidy snagged 4 – Jehb O’Donohue, Joshue Cipro and Zachary Provest all kicking 2 – while Falcons veteran Tyler Keitel booted 3 goals in his 200th match.
Good tackle pressure from the away side kept them in the match with every player recording at least one tackle, but it was Kai Dehavilland who lead the Falcons with 7.
West Perth had a rough day in the ruck contest with 15 less hit outs, an issue they’re still pained by off the back of two losses previously.
South Fremantle 9.15 (69) def by. Claremont 11.8 (74)
A top-of-the-table clash between the Tigers and Doggies produced the contest it was expected to, with the away side walking away victorious by 5 points.
Claremont controlled in the first half but a third quarter push from South Fremantle put them in the lead heading into the final term.
8 behinds in the last quarter from the home side gave the Tigers a taste – Zac Mainwaring standing out with 2 goals for the match, one of which brought the match to a one-kick ball game in the fourth.
Claremont’s engine room was more efficient with four players recording 26 or more touches, Samuel Alvarez leading with 30 and 8 marks.
The Tigers now sit clear in first as the only undefeated team, South Fremantle right behind in second.
East Perth 9.11 (65) def by. East Fremantle 12.6 (78)
East Fremantle got off to a hot start at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Saturday leading by 17-points going into the second term, but a scoreless quarter saw the Royals up by three heading into the second half.
5 goals in the third quarter from the Sharks gave them some breathing room, dominating for the remainder of the match and coming away with their second win of the season.
Tackle pressure was key for the Sharks led by Tom Joyce (26 disposals, 10 tackles) Kyle Baskerville (10 tackles) and Jack Cleaver (9 tackles).
Scott Jones was commanding in the ruck recording 45 hit outs to add to East Perth’s tally of 55 to the Sharks’ 29.
Ruck dominance wasn’t enough to get the Royals over the line – Oskar Smartt kicking 4 majors for the day, assisted by Austin Bell as the only other multiple goalkicker for East Fremantle with 2.
West Coast 16.12 (108) def. Subiaco 12.9 (81)
West Coast continued a solid start to their 2026 WAFL campaign on Sunday defeating Subiaco by 27-points at Mineral Resources Park.
The Lions led at every break but a 5-goal surge from the Eagles in the fourth pushed them over the line at the final siren.
Tom Gross and Clay Hall had significant impact all over the ground, Gross recording 29 disposals, 7 tackles and 7 inside 50s and Hall putting up 26 with 4 marks and 2 goals.
Former AFL Eagle Jack Petruccelle booted four majors on his old club, Ryan Borchet and Jack Mayo putting 3 and 2 goals respectively on the scoreboard for Subiaco.
Matt Flynn looked like he was playing against himself in the ruck, recording 50 hit outs for the Eagles to work towards a 61-29 hit out count in favour of the victors.
WAFLW round 4
Swan Districts 7.8 (50) def. West Perth 6.8 (44)
Swan Districts continue their hot start to 2026, sitting undefeated on top of the ladder after a 1-goal win at home on Saturday.
They were lucky to hold on over the Falcons, kicking only three points in the third quarter and remaining scoreless in the last.
Jaime Henry was best on ground for the Swans once again, putting up 36 disposals, 7 tackles and 5 marks.
Their transition effort was rewarded on the scoreboard with 3 multiple goalkickers for the victors – Taylah Edwards, Summer Yarran and Ashley Sharp all booting 2 goals each.
Lexi Strachan put in a stellar effort for West Perth walking away with 21 disposals, 7 tackles and 3 inside 50 entries in a close game.
Peel Thunder 5.4 (34) def by. Perth 8.5 (53)
Peel Thunder remain winless after a 19-point defeat over Perth at Lane Group Stadium, with consistent four quarter scoreboard pressure from the Demons proving too much for the home side.
Perth controlled possession with 280 total disposals for the day to Peel’s 180, Isla Baldwin (27 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 marks) and Isabella Shannon (26 disposals, 5 marks, 4 tackles) getting most of the footy in the midfield.
Chloe Wrigley was best on ground for the Thunder with 30 touches, 9 tackles, 5 entries and a goal.
Despite a close inside 50 entry count, Peel couldn’t generate goals through the Demons’ defence with Mia Carshausen, Amy Trindade and Sienna Timmermans all taking 6 marks each.
Perth now move up to fourth on the ladder while Peel Thunder remain on the bottom.
South Fremantle 6.2 (38) def by. Claremont 8.13 (61)
Claremont climb to second after a win on the road over South Fremantle – inaccuracy from the Tigers saving the Dogs from a thrashing.
Excellent contest work from Belinda Smith, Jayme Harken, Sarah Viney and Ruby Sargent-Wilson generated 13 more scoring shots and 11 more entries for Claremont over the home side.
Bec Anderson led the forward line with 4 majors for the day, Mia Jackson adding another 2 to the Tigers’ tally.
75% accuracy in front of goals for South Fremantle provided some silver lining, proving their issue so far this season lies within getting the ball in the hands of their forwards.
The Dogs now sit in fifth with one win, two losses and a draw – Claremont comfortable in second.
East Perth 4.3 (27) def by. East Fremantle 8.4 (52)
The Sharks got their first win of the season over the Royals at Sullivan Logistics Stadium on Sunday, victorious by 25-points.
It was a tight contest until the last term, with the Royals finishing goalless for the quarter while the Sharks kicked 3 goals.
There were no major ball winners on either side for the day, but the travellers proved more efficient requiring only 34 disposals per goal to 59.8 for East Perth
Jasmine Johansen and Sarah Wielstra both booted 2 majors each for the Sharks, with Tessa Kohn leading the Royals with 2 for herself.
It’s been a rough start to the year for both teams, now sitting in seventh and eighth.
IMAGE: Shazza J Photography